“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

Same 11 on the field is the point. I'm going to be watching Bedoya closely because I liked Zusi in that spot.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

Hey friends - joining the thread via dongle-internet from South Africa at 11:20 PM because 1) I have to watch this and 2) I can't possibly watch alone.

“The boys are all ‘soft’ and short winded as yet, but if they follow Captain Malley it will be soiled meat and sand that Cornell runs up against this year" - "Our Rugby Team," The Michigan Daily, 1890.

I'm more of a lurker. Special circumstances call for a more visible presence, I guess.

“The boys are all ‘soft’ and short winded as yet, but if they follow Captain Malley it will be soiled meat and sand that Cornell runs up against this year" - "Our Rugby Team," The Michigan Daily, 1890.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

Landon Donovan must've liked my post because he gets on national TV and talks about "the moment" and he picks his hands up, looks down at his cack and says "I'm excited, the blood is flowing."

That was pretty funny. In a 16 years old kind of way.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

If we played them ten times, they might win nine, but not this game. Not tonight.

Tonight, we run. Tonight, we stay with them, and we shut them down, because we can! Tonight, WE are the greatest soccer team in the world. You were born to be soccer players, every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done, it's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about how many times Ghana has eliminated us in the World Cup. Screw 'em. This is your time.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

“The boys are all ‘soft’ and short winded as yet, but if they follow Captain Malley it will be soiled meat and sand that Cornell runs up against this year" - "Our Rugby Team," The Michigan Daily, 1890.

That was an awesome freakout...because it was identical to what I looked like.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

That was an awesome freakout...because it was identical to what I looked like.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

I guess we don't have to worry about:
- a forward not scoring
- if we can play from behind
- if Jones can be an effective playmaker
- if jurgen didn't fire up the boys enough
- if Dempsey can score without Donovan
- if beckermann's dreads would hold up in the humidity

Go USA

"So I come out of Ohio Stadium after we beat the Buckeyes, and right there on the hood of my friend's car, some one took a dump, in the shape of an 'O'. no shit. Oh, sorry, bad pun."

The USA: Undisputed champions in world soccer of challenging passes to the opposition goalkeeper and looking aggrevied when someone flops.

“The boys are all ‘soft’ and short winded as yet, but if they follow Captain Malley it will be soiled meat and sand that Cornell runs up against this year" - "Our Rugby Team," The Michigan Daily, 1890.

I feel like they're bypassing the midfield and just huffing it to the deep left corner and allowing that super speedy guy to beat the defender to the ball. Plus a metric shit ton of turnovers. I mean, it's like every other touch is betraying the US.

Yes our passing has been bad as have first touches. We are usually halfway decent - it is not like Ghana is man marking extremely fiercely in the middle of the field. We need to come out and play like normal to relieve some pressure and at least push Ghana back every few minutes.

When the US gets in the attacking third, they look tremendous. It's just in the center of the field and clearing out the back that makes me feel uneasy.

“The boys are all ‘soft’ and short winded as yet, but if they follow Captain Malley it will be soiled meat and sand that Cornell runs up against this year" - "Our Rugby Team," The Michigan Daily, 1890.

Hopefully Ghana begins to tire in the 75th minute or so, so maybe need to survive that first 20 minutes in the 2nd half. Will take this score all day - basically played well for 10 out of 45 minutes. Midfield is completely lost to Ghana right now.

the early goal helped the US play exactly how they want: make ghana put together passes to score, take your chances on the counterattack, and play defense. unfortunately, the US passes were not crisp at all, and you didnt see much counterattack. apart from a couple 1/2 chances from ghana it worked, but the lazy US passes on the counterattack made it seem worse than what it was.

the jozy injury is a huge kick in the nuts. i like aron, but i dont think hes a starting world cup striker.

what do we see in the second half? would love to push the tempo a bit more - im not confident in our defense pitching a shutout - but we need michael bradley to take charge.

You can tell that Ghana's game plan is to go after jones and Beasley, and it's working. I'm sure that Jurgen wants to sit back and play counterattack with the lead, but we are giving up so many chances that one of them is bound to go in. I don't think a defensive solution really exists, on the field or on the bench; I think we're just going to have to score at least one more, and actually possess the ball for more than two consecutive passes.

Here's the thing: they're doing everything on that right side, but until that very last play of the half Beasley was typically in good position and those crosses weren't easy to put on target, and the central guys were usually in good position to take care of business.

Yeah and with Portugal that said is going to be Nani... and Bedoya is going to have fun with Ronaldo. They definitely do not respect Jones. I have no issue with Beasley - he is doing his job...it's the midfield crosses that are destroying them... they are not going deep into the corner vs Beasley. Jones is the target.

Hopefully we come out more composed on the second half, take this game, find a way to play well without Jozy against Portutal, and hopefully get Jozy back for Germany and (hopefully) beyond. One half at a time.

Personally I think the injuries really disrupted the US rythym and we have to get it back.

I believe that we will win.

I get knocked down, but I get up again; you're never going to keep me down. I get knocked down, but I get up again; you're never going to keep me down.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

I just don't see much skill on this team. Perhaps this is abnormally performance, but after watching most of the games in this cup I would have to put the US in the bottom half of the teams when it comes to skill.